“I trust Canadians. I know that Canadians are going to make a real and strong choice on Oct. 19.”

In recent days, the Liberal campaign has been focused on targeting ridings won by both Conservatives and New Democrats in the 2011 election.

On Wednesday, Trudeau’s tour blitzed the Niagara Peninsula and the Toronto suburbs with whistle-stop events as part of a push one of his staffers described as being “on offence.”

At each stop, the Liberal leader is greeted by hundreds of boisterous supporters.

At times, partisans have jostled — sometimes aggressively — in packed restaurants, bakeries and bars just for a chance to get a selfie with Trudeau, his autograph or even a handshake.

One woman at a rally Wednesday in St. Catharines, Ont., a riding held by a Conservative in the last Parliament, boasted about shaking Trudeau’s hand.

“He had a wonderful handshake,” raved Juliana Geier, who also hailed his speaking skills and described him as more trustworthy than his rivals.

“He’s coming in to St. Catharines and I just wanted to have the chance just to meet him.”

Trudeau has spent the week trying to woo supporters of the former Progressive Conservative party, who he believes have been let down by Harper. He has also targeted left-of-centre voters who cast ballots for the NDP in 2011.

Trudeau has made repeated claims the Liberal plan is the most progressive platform.

Shaun Burt, the Liberal candidate for Hamilton Mountain, gives credit to that platform for helping boost the party’s chances in the riding — one that’s been held by the New Democrats since 2006.

“Hamilton is a blueprint for this platform,” said Burt, who only won the nomination three weeks into the 11-week campaign.

While he insisted he’s seen a significant shift in the district, he said he remains cautious, because he’s learned that electoral winds can abruptly change direction.

“I’m really optimistic — I don’t want to say too much on that,” Burt said. “But if you were to ask me three, four weeks ago, I would have said this is a daunting challenge I have ahead of myself.